France's Politically Correct War on Islamic Terror

French leaders consistently act in ways that undermine their stated goal of eradicating Islamic terror.

Critics of the policy say "Daesh" is a politically correct linguistic device that allows Western leaders to claim that the Islamic State is not Islamic -- and thus ignore the root cause of Islamic terror and militant jihad.

French leaders have also been consistently antagonistic toward Israel, a country facing Islamic terror on a daily basis. France is leading international diplomatic efforts to push for a UN resolution that would lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within a period of two years. The move effectively whitewashes Palestinian terror.

French critics of Islam are routinely harassed with strategic lawsuits that seek to censor, intimidate and silence them. In a recent case, Sébastien Jallamion, a 43-year-old policeman from Lyon was suspended from his job and fined 5,000 euros after he condemned the death of Frenchman Hervé Gourdel, who was beheaded by jihadists in Algeria.

"Those who denounce the illegal behavior of fundamentalists are more likely to be sued than the fundamentalists who behave illegally." — Marine Le Pen, leader of France's Front National.

French President François Hollande has vowed to avenge the November 13 jihadist attacks in Paris that left more than 120 dead and 350 injured.

Speaking from the Élysée Palace, Hollande blamed the Islamic State for the attacks, which he called an "act of war." He said the response from France would be "unforgiving" and "merciless."

Despite the tough rhetoric, however, the question remains: Does Hollande understand the true nature of the war he faces?

Hollande pointedly referred to the Islamic State as "Daesh," the acronym of the group's full Arabic name, which in English translates as "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant," or "ISIL."

The official policy of the French government is to avoid using the term "Islamic State" because, according to French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, it "blurs the lines between Islam, Muslims and Islamists."

Critics of the policy say "Daesh" is a politically correct linguistic device that allows Western leaders to claim that the Islamic State is not Islamic -- and thus ignore the root cause of Islamic terror and militant jihad.

Islamic ideology divides the world into two spheres: the House of Islam and the House of War. The House of War (the non-Muslim world) is subject to permanent jihad until it is made part of the House of Islam, where Sharia is the law of the land.

Jihad -- the perpetual struggle to expand Muslim domination throughout the world with the ultimate aim of bringing all of humanity under submission to the will of Allah -- is the primary objective of true Islam, as unambiguously outlined in its foundational documents.

Consequently, even if the Islamic State were to be bombed into oblivion, France and the rest of the non-Muslim world will continue to be the target of Islamic supremacists. The West cannot defeat Islamic terrorism by attempting to conceptually delink it from true Islam. But still they try.

After the January 2015 jihadist attacks on the Paris offices of the magazine Charlie Hebdo that left 12 people dead, President Hollande declared:

"We must reject facile thinking and eschew exaggeration. Those who committed these terrorist acts, those terrorists, those fanatics, have nothing to do with the Muslim religion."

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said: "We are in a war against terrorism. We are not in a war against religion, against a civilization." Again, he said: "We are at war with terrorism, jihadism and radicalism. France is not at war against Islam and Muslims."

At a June conference with more than 100 leaders of the French Muslim community, Valls denied there is any link between extremism and Islam. He also refused to raise the issue of radicalization because the topic was "too sensitive." Instead, he said:

"Islam still provokes misunderstandings, prejudices and is rejected by some citizens. Yet Islam is here to stay in France. It is the second largest religious group in our country.

"We must say all of this is not Islam: The hate speech, anti-Semitism that hides behind anti-Zionism and hate for Israel, the self-proclaimed imams in our neighborhoods and our prisons who are promoting violence and terrorism."

After the January 2015 jihadist attacks in Paris, France's President François Hollande declared: "We must reject facile thinking and eschew exaggeration. Those who committed these terrorist acts, those terrorists, those fanatics, have nothing to do with the Muslim religion."

France is home to around 6.5 million Muslims, or roughly 10% of the country's total population of 66 million. Although most Muslims in France live peacefully, many are drawn to radical Islam. A CSA poll found that 22% of Muslims in the country consider themselves Muslim first and French second. Nearly one out of five (17%) Muslims in France believe that Sharia law should be fully applied in France, while 37% believe that parts of Sharia should be applied in the country.

France is also one of the largest European sources of so-called foreign fighters in Syria: More than 1,500 French Muslims have joined the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, and many more are believed to be supporters of the group in France.

Since the Charlie Hebdo attacks, the French government has introduced a raft of new counter-terrorism measures -- including sweeping surveillance powers to eavesdrop on the public -- aimed at preventing further jihadist attacks.

French counter-terrorism operatives have foiled a number of jihadist plots, including a plan to attack a major navy base in Toulon, and an attempt to murder a Socialist MP in Paris.

As the latest attacks in Paris (as well as the failed attack on a high-speed train from Amsterdam to Paris in August) show, surveillance is not foolproof. Claude Moniquet, a former French intelligence operative, warns that European intelligence agencies are overwhelmed by the sheer number of people who may pose a threat. He writes:

"Some 6,000 Europeans are or were involved in the fighting in Syria (they went there, they were killed in action, they are still in IS camps, they are on their way there or their way back.)

"If you have 6,000 'active' jihadists, this probably means that if you try to count those who were not identified, the logistics people who help them join up, their sympathizers and the most radical extremists who are not yet involved in violence but are on the verge of it, you have something between 10,000 and 20,000 'dangerous' people in Europe.

"To carry out 'normal' surveillance on a suspect on a permanent basis, you need 20 to 30 agents and a dozen vehicles. And these are just the requirements for a 'quiet' target.

"If the suspect travels abroad, for instance, the figure could go up to 50 or 80 agents and necessitate co-operation between the services of various countries. Work it out: to keep watch on all the potential suspects, you'd need between 120,000 and 500,000 agents throughout Europe. Mission impossible!"

Meanwhile, French leaders consistently act in ways that undermine their stated goal of eradicating Islamic terror.

The French government has been one of the leading European proponents of the nuclear deal with Iran, the world's biggest state sponsor of terrorism. Although Iran and its proxy, Hezbollah, are responsible for deaths of scores of French citizens, Fabius wasted no time in rushing to Tehran in search of business opportunities for French companies. In July, Fabius proclaimed:

"We are two great independent countries, two great civilizations. It is true that in recent years, for reasons that everyone knows, links have loosened, but now thanks to the nuclear deal, things are going to change."

Fabius also extended an invitation for Iran's President, Hassan Rouhani, to visit France in November. This trip -- which has been mired in controversy, not over terrorism or nuclear proliferation, but over Iran's demand that no wine be served during a formal dinner at the Élysée Palace -- was postponed indefinitely after the Paris attacks. Hollande's advisors apparently concluded that this is not the right moment for a photo-op with Rouhani, a career terrorist.

French leaders have also been consistently antagonistic toward Israel, a country facing Islamic terror on a daily basis.

After Israel launched a military offensive aimed at stopping Islamic terror groups in the Gaza Strip from launching missiles into the Jewish state, France led international calls for Israel to halt the operation. French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said:

"France calls for an immediate ceasefire... to ensure that every side starts talking to each other to avoid an escalation that would be tragic for this part of the world."

More recently, France has been a leading European advocate of a European Union policy that now requires Israel to label products "originating in Israeli settlements beyond Israel's 1967 borders." The move is widely seen as part of an international campaign to delegitimize the State of Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the move:

"The labelling of products of the Jewish state by the European Union brings back dark memories. Europe should be ashamed of itself. It took an immoral decision... this will not advance peace, it will certainly not advance truth and justice. It is wrong."

France is also leading international diplomatic efforts to push for a United Nations resolution that would lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within a period of two years. The move effectively whitewashes Palestinian terror. Netanyahu responded:

"The only way to reach an agreement is through bilateral negotiations, and we will forcibly reject any attempts to force upon us international dictates.

"In the international proposals that have been suggested to us -- which they are actually trying to force upon us -- there is no real reference to Israel's security needs or our other national interests.

"They are simply trying to push us into indefensible borders while completely ignoring what will happen on the other side of the border."

Meanwhile, after more than a year as a member of the US-led coalition against the Islamic State, French officials waited until late September to begin striking targets in Syria. But they refused to destroy the headquarters of the Islamic State in Raqqa -- where the Paris attacks were reportedly planned.

Back in France, critics of Islam are routinely harassed with strategic lawsuits that seek to censor, intimidate and silence them.

In a recent case, Sébastien Jallamion, a 43-year-old policeman from Lyon, was suspended from his job and fined 5,000 euros after he condemned the death of Frenchman Hervé Gourdel, who was beheaded by jihadists in Algeria in September 2014. Jallamion explained:

"According to the administrative decree that was sent to me today, I am accused of having created an anonymous Facebook page in September 2014, showing several 'provocative' images and commentaries, 'discriminatory and injurious,' of a 'xenophobic or anti-Muslim' nature. As an example, there was that portrait of the Calif al-Baghdadi, head of the Islamic State, with a visor on his forehead. This publication was exhibited during my appearance before the discipline committee with the following accusation: 'Are you not ashamed of stigmatizing an imam in this way?' My lawyer can confirm this... It looks like a political punishment. I cannot see any other explanation.

"Our fundamental values, those for which many of our ancestors gave their life are deteriorating, and that it is time for us to become indignant over what our country is turning into. This is not France, land of Enlightenment that in its day shone over all of Europe and beyond. We must fight to preserve our values, it's a matter of survival."

Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's Front National (FN) and one of the most popular politicians in the country, went on trial in October 2015 for comparing Muslim street prayers to the wartime occupation of France. At a campaign rally in Lyon in 2010, she said:

"I'm sorry, but for those who really like to talk about World War II, if we're talking about an occupation, we could talk about the [street prayers], because that is clearly an occupation of territory.

"It is an occupation of sections of the territory, of neighborhoods in which religious law applies -- it is an occupation. There are no tanks, there are no soldiers, but it is an occupation nevertheless, and it weighs on people."

"It is a scandal that a political leader can be sued for expressing her beliefs. Those who denounce the illegal behavior of fundamentalists are more likely to be sued than the fundamentalists who behave illegally."

"France and the French are no longer safe. It is my duty to tell you. Urgent action is needed.

"France must finally identify her allies and her enemies. Her enemies are those countries that have friendly relationships with radical Islam, and also those countries that have an ambiguous attitude toward terrorist enterprises.

"Regardless of what the European Union says, it is essential that France regain permanent control over its borders.

"France has been rendered vulnerable; it must rearm, because for too long it has undergone a programmed collapse of its defensive capabilities in the face of predictable and growing threats. It must restore its military resources, police, gendarmerie, intelligence and customs. The State must be able to ensure again its vital mission of protecting the French.

"Finally, Islamist fundamentalism must be annihilated. France must ban Islamist organizations, close radical mosques and expel foreigners who preach hatred in our country as well as illegal migrants who have nothing to do here. As for dual nationals who are participating in these Islamist movements, they must be stripped of their French nationality and deported."

In the aftermath of the attacks, Le Pen, who has long been critical of President Hollande's politically correct counter-terrorism policies, is certain to rise in public opinion polls. This will increase the political pressure on the government to take decisive action against the jihadists.

Faced with similar pressure after the Charlie Hebdo attacks in January, Hollande seemed reluctant to push too far, apparently fearful of the consequences of confronting the Muslim community in France. It remains to be seen whether the latest attacks in Paris, which some are describing as France's September 11, mark a turning point.

Soeren Kern is a Senior Fellow at the New York-basedGatestone Institute. He is also Senior Fellow for European Politics at the Madrid-based Grupo de Estudios Estratégicos / Strategic Studies Group. Follow him onFacebook and onTwitter. His first book,Global Fire, will be out in early 2016.

Comment on this item

25 Reader Comments

David Weum • Nov 17, 2015 at 22:28

The French woke up to a nightmare 30 years in the making. Will France's policies now change? Don't hold your breath. Thirty years worth of LIBERAL POLICIES CANNOT BE UNDONE WITHOUT A GOVERNMENT THAT STANDS WITH THE PEOPLE. FRANCE DID THAT ONCE OR TWICE IN THE PAST. HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL.

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Harvey • Nov 17, 2015 at 17:00

It appears that the ruling French are of the opinion that if you try to help to destroy Israel, the Muslim thugs will say "Good job carry on the good work we are your friends." It's only when the knife is at their throats they will realise how mistaken they were. Things certainly don't change with the French.

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Gregory Bigelow • Nov 17, 2015 at 12:31

Title says it all unfortunately.

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Charles Emelogu • Nov 17, 2015 at 06:56

Friday was France; next might be Sweden, that 'holier than thou' nation that believes Israel is emasculating the Palestinians. Europe has been trying their best to throw Israel under a moving truck. They have tried to destroy Israel by their wicked policies. I always wonder why Europe hates Israel! If not for the US, which has often vetoed wicked resolutions of UN against Israel, perhaps Europe would have successfully mediated the destruction of Israel. In their ignorance and sometimes deliberate wicked mischief-making they try to prove how humane they are by lambasting Israel when even Arabs can attest to the fact that Israel bends double to save their death wish neighbors who celebrate the brutal murder of a Jewish father and son by street dancing and sharing of candies.

Today Islam, which Europe claim has nothing to do with terrorism, has migrated to Europe. I am personally watching Sweden, France, Germany, UK, Netherland and indeed all Europe to see how they handle Islamism. At least it seems obvious Europe would never sleep with two eyes closed: they may even go shopping with guns in their pockets. Very Humane!

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Stan Lee Charles Emelogu • Nov 18, 2015 at 17:18

The collection of EU nations, from Sweden to Spain, seek to deflect Islamic hate by their bigotry and condemnation to Israel. So stupid is such a policy that it is amazing that the EU doesn't realize the problem isn't the existence of a few Jews, but the fact that no matter how the EU is aloof of Christianity, Islam still considers the EU as dominantly Christian which to Islam translates to "The Crusades."

While Islam enjoys EU persecution of Jews, that's not enough to placate Islam. Overall conversion in the EU to Islam is the mission of Islam, the EU just doesn't "get it."

The issue, in other words, is not a very minor Jewish population throughout the EU, the issue is that the EU populations are not Muslim. Not being Muslim is the signal to Islam to change it by conversion under duress, or mass killings meant to persuade EU non-Muslims that resistance to Islam if futile.It is prepared to do slaughters like in Paris, or blowing up passenger aircraft as over Egypt.

Islam is creating the reputation that its long arms can reach anywhere in this world. And, apart from the recent French police raids against Muslim terrorists, the stupid EU response to terror threats seems to be "political correctness."

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Mels. • Nov 17, 2015 at 03:37

In January, French President F. Hollande stated that jihadist attacks have nothing to do with the Muslim religion. He must now see that his Muslim boot licking won't help him to be eaten last.

It is shameful that in France people are sued for expressing the truth about the dangers of Radical Islam and no go areas,etc. (which weren't even mentioned by the media in the recent attacks) while the Radical law breakers aren't sued.

Europe and the UK will have only themselves to blame if or when they perish. And this time the USA and Russia might not save them.

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dm • Nov 17, 2015 at 00:02

The "politically correct" endeavours that are being pursued by the various governments are basically a face-saving route as the situation has and is out of hand. Unfortunately, the route taken appears to be the road to hell for the tax paying residents of those countries. It would be pertinent to point out that these politicians who are enabling laws to arrest their own citizens for voicing a fact of life that their countries are being destroyed, are voted and paid for by those same people. "Those People" are paying the politicians to do a job, which is to run the country efficiently for "those people" who are paying them out of their earnings, life time of earnings, government bonds, etc., Therefore what is a politician, a politician is A PAID SERVANT OF THE STATE put in place to protect "those people".

"Those people" are presently the ones who are being kidnapped, raped, decapitated and suffering loss of safety and security which has been, and is being duly paid for by "those SAME people". This is not any one country, so many countries are facing that threat.

Sad to say, but if a few more politicians and their families were to sustain threat as portrayed above, then perhaps the mind set would change. As the story goes, one does not realise what others go through unless you experience it yourself.

Ultimately of course, the decision makers will experience all of the above, lets hope that its not to late for the policy makers to review their policies and protect their RESIDENTS (this includes people from other countries and other religion also that are RESIDENTS) and not keep trying to make a name for themselves in the world press.

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Dyck Choad • Nov 16, 2015 at 20:16

Sooner or later the civilized world must recognize Political Islam for what it is. (politicalislam.com and thereligionofpeace.com) there is no pc when it concerns survival. If the politicians will not protect the citizens then the citizens must do it.

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steven L • Nov 16, 2015 at 18:37

The French Republic is in mortal danger from within and bombarding Raqqa will not bring a beginning of solution to their acute problem. Allowing permanent incitement and failure to address internal terrorism are two major issues. Falling birth rate is another major issue.

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stan lee • Nov 16, 2015 at 18:35

Hollande said "We're at war" and unleashed the French Air Force on IS. The French Navy's aircraft carrier will be on station adjacent to the Syrian coast. It carries a potent force on board. I thought, knowing Hollande to be a mild type, "How long will his anger last before he has French forces back-off?"

We're not talking about Russia's Putin here, Hollande is even mild compared to LePen, who is for real. At a time like this, France needs a leader like LePen, unless Hollande has had an epiphany.

To fight an army like IS requires dedication and staying power. Hollande will be accorded a welcome to the coastal Syria region and that's important to Syria, Russia, and France. Fighting IS gets Hollande quite far with Putin, although the Russians are still chafed at the failed Russo-French business in which France was contracted by Russia for two aircraft carriers to be built a few years ago.

But, France also was discouraged to complete them, though Russia had placed deposits for France to build the two carriers. The French were playing to Putin and Obama at the same time, and after a series of lessons given to Obama by Putin, for which he harbored great resentment toward Putin, France was in the middle between Obama and Putin. France is a NATO nation therefore it chose not to irritate the petulant Obama who was feeling jilted by a tightening French-Russian business relationship. So, the two aircraft carriers were not completed, France returned the Russian deposit which it had held for a few years (plus interest) while the ships were in early building stages.

Now, Hollande is facing probably what he never anticipated, he must act the part of French Commander in Chief. He's not a "natural" to be C.I.C., but he did start well after the Paris attack by IS. And, that is the question; will he sustain the military response on IS, or allow it to cool down? There is no percentage for him to carry on a war with IS, while awaiting USA to act like we really could. Not with Obama in office. Most of us have already sampled Obama's reaction. He was good for a moment...The moment of silence. There was also a "Moment of Silence" declared in the international G-20 meeting after the report of the terror attack in Paris. It's been reported that one dignitary missed that ceremony...Obama walked in late.

He was in the right country (Turkey) to do so, a news report stated that a Turkish city (name?) turned out to celebrate the Paris attack. 'Reminded me of the Muslim street celebrations throughout the Middle East after 9/11. There's a deep pathology in Islam concerning western democracies, the Paris terror attack ought to be the last time Islam is able to celebrates! France should not forget the murders in Paris, hopefully it will be dependable if a concerted military response from the EU takes place. With a horde of Muslim males in Germany, barely vetted but already acting out, the EU is going to be a dangerous place because of the "open door" policy of EU and Germany's Merkel promoting it.

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Ron Thompson • Nov 16, 2015 at 18:30

Soeren Kern is right about what is in the foundational documents of Islam and, one might add, what is known from the behavior and words of Mohammed.

Instead off calling any terrorists who leave France to join ISIS "French nationals", as is routinely done, far better to call them "Muslims with French passports" (or citizenship). Not to do this is to invite confusion and cognitive dissonance.

Any concern about 'discrimination' toward non-terrorist Muslims should be outweighed by the need for clarity and factual statement which, sadly, is still the exact opposite of the speech of the current political leadership of France.

And instead of calling any Muslim terrorists born in France "homegrown", which is even more misleading, they should be termed "Islam grown".

If such clarity is used, then we wouldn't be hearing over the past days that so many of the French people are "stunned" or "baffled" by what happened. Instead they would be clear-headed and calling for the same from their government, knowing that the enemy is the ideology of Islam,
regardless of how many individual Muslims do not follow its brutal tenets.

There is a story in the United States today that "hundreds of Mormons" in the State of Utah are leaving the religion because of their church's harsh rejection of same-sex marriage.

Do any of us wonder why the same reaction isn't happening among Muslims over the deliberately targeted terrorist murders of 130 people listening to music?? Why stay in a religion which preaches such behavior and is practicing it on an increasingly world-wide scale?

Therefore, the next logical, long overdue step, should be to take on the Bully of the World, Islam itself, whose teachings by thousands of Imams and countless internet postings call for everyone on the planet to either submit to Islam, or expect exactly what happened in Paris.

If, for every 1,000,000 Muslims only 1% become "radicalized", that's 10,000 terrorists. Or if only 1/10 of 1% become radicalized, that's still 1,000 terrorists - and look what only 8 did in Paris.

Fourteen years ago, we in the United States did not learn the right lesson, or draw the correct conclusion. What are the chances, after what has happened in Paris, that we will this time?

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El Cid • Nov 16, 2015 at 16:53

President Hollande is in an impossible position. The size and diversity of the Islamic population is already too significant for direct confrontation.

It will take a much more courageous and able leader to avoid a civil war.

There must be a broad middle that identifies strongly with the Republic among the Islamic population.

Confrontation is essential and inevitable. But how?

A courageous leader, for example, would observe that Islamic violence in Israel is equivalent to Islamic violence in France. He would take a moral position and might be surprised to find Muslims agreeing with him.

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Zeit Geist • Nov 16, 2015 at 16:29

When a Western nation, such as France, has a significantly large, vocal and violent Muslim population, it is inevitable that the policies, domestic and foreign, of such a country must change in favour of Islam and Islamic interests. The policies will continue to change and be more Muslim centred and Islam friendly as the Muslim population of the country grows.

Having said the above, which I regard as self evident, I have also concluded that it is pointless continually making such observations; they change nothing. Such statements from people such as myself have no effect whatsoever on those who are in a position to make any meaningful change of direction, away from the disastrous route that we in the West are now on.

Politicians have made clear that the narrative of appeasement and cowardice will not stop; the media, especially the shameless B.B.C, make it clear that they intend to carry on reporting on Islamic jihad in the same pusillanimous style, transferring victimhood from the victims to the aggressor. Israel is still going to be condemned for trying to protect their democracy from barbarism. Unchecked and unlimited immigration from Islamic states and the obvious danger that necessarily comes with it will go on unabated once the latest outrage has passed into history,which will not take long. "Hate speech" and the like will continue to gag those who seek to call attention to the dangers of the current policies, probably in ever more proscriptive decrees.The public will still be sold the concept of the two Islams ,the cuddly "real" one and the spiky "corrupted" one.

There is an agenda, the scope and depth of which most of us can only guess at, and nothing it seems will be allowed to impede it's progress. Preaching to the converted isn't going to help and the others are not interested and too entrenched in their self delusion, fear or wishful thinking to listen. The elites have no respect for the opinions or fears of the people anyway and intend to just carry on with the plan.

I know that I am not deceived, I am not fooled by the "moderate" Muslims wheeled out for the cameras after every atrocity, the pathetic Bishops and "Churchmen" and their self deluding, endless "multi faith" conferences that solve nothing and save no one; or the constant insistence that the West has been "enriched" by taking the flotsam and jetsam of the third world into the bosom of our civilization.

I shall just have to content myself with the knowledge that at least I am not tricked,even though the reason for the trickery is, I must confess, a mystery.

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Reform School • Nov 16, 2015 at 15:55

Islamists will only negotiate until strong enough to dominate or slaughter. Liberty and Political Correctness cannot co-exist. Each kills the other. Given the opportunity, Khamenei would behead Christian socialists Juncker, Mogherini, Hollande, Obama and their fellows. To their dying breaths, these Christian(?) Socialist leaders will invoke the name of St. Pinocchio (patron saint of politicians) to convince voters, donors and themselves that the Warrior Prophet and his disciples Saddam Hussein, Muammar Khaddafi, Achmad Imanutjob and Recep Erdogan, always win converts by showering unwilling infidels with love; that beating, rape, flogging, beheading and other niceties that make Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Ho Chi Minh, Mao Tse Dong and Pol Pot look like Hans Christian Anderson are alien to Islam.

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G M Ben-Nathan • Nov 16, 2015 at 11:18

The British writer Somerset Maugham, in the 1930's, criticized the French for being full of rhetoric -- for believing that a problem could be solved merely by throwing lofty words at it.

It looks as if little has changed.

The terrorists, last Friday evening were awarded nearly two hours, TWO HOURS! to go on the rampage carrying out carnage.

In Britain, one would expect no more than twenty minutes and in Israel here, no more than five -- and probably a great deal less.

For ISIS to hear that France is "at war with them" is unlikely to make them quiver in their boots -- particularly with a performance like last Friday's.

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Daniel Less • Nov 16, 2015 at 11:12

President Francois Hollande lacks the spine, which is also the case with virtually all Western European "leaders", including David Cameron of the U.K., as well as President Obama, to deal effectively with the consequences of the latest terrorist atrocity in Paris.

The terror attack in Paris in November 13th was neither shocking nor surprising. It was only to be expected, and it's almost certain to be followed by further terror attacks in the near future in various locations across Europe, as the continent is slowly but inevitably turning into a Eurabia. We are no longer living in normal times during this 21st century, when things like this can take place and most people are not sufficiently outraged at what is happening to our world. The political leaders of several Eastern European countries, such as for instance Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic are far more realistic and able to see things for what they really are. Why this is so is anybody's guess.

When we are not living in normal times, extraordinary measures needs to be taken to ensure everybody's safety. Personally I think that Marine Le Pen would be the best choice for France, as she and her party sticks more to the facts and reality as it actually is, than Monsieur Hollande.

Sadly, I think it is now far too late for Europe, it will most likely disintegrate into chaos, race riots and perhaps civil war, and future generations will curse us for this state of affairs. The simple truth is that we are at war with Islam in the West, it is a clash of Civilization that now is taking place, and if we are averting eyes from this we only have ourselves to blame for our own demise.Daniel LessStockholm-Sweden

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jane • Nov 16, 2015 at 10:51

Just a few weeks ago, the BBC website, surprise, surprise, published a rather sneery, condescending article in which the writer reported that France was having another attack of 'secularitis'. I found this so offensive that I considered making a complaint: the author obviously felt that the upholding of France's secular values was rather 'de trop' to use a French phrase. Now we see that the Napoleonic Code and the Republic's values are threatened by political correctness and the onslaught of the Islamic hit squads, who will undoubtedly strike again. If I were French I would support Marine le Pen.

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Ken Kelso • Nov 16, 2015 at 10:42

Does anyone forget that France last month at UNESCO refused to vote against the Arabs trying to push a resolution saying the Western Wall was a Muslim holy site and not a Jewish holy site. François Hollande had France abstain in the vote.

Imagine if the Arabs said the Eiffel tower was a Muslim holy site and not a French site. Imagine if there was a vote on this and Israel abstained in a vote. How would France feel?

Let's not also forget last month France tried to push a resolution trying to get U.N peacekeepers at the Temple Mount last month to reward Palestinian terrorism.

I am having trouble identifying who is crazier: the knife wielding Arab attackers or François Hollande who sympathizes with them and tries to appease them.

To speak about rewarding Palestinian terrorists who are utterly bent on murdering innocent Israeli civilians is insanity.

Certainly if the shoe were on the other foot and it was Jews hacking to death elderly Arabs, or Jews grabbing Arab teenagers on bicycles and bludgeoning Arab teens with knives, François Hollande would be screaming in protest.

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Carl • Nov 16, 2015 at 10:11

If France had let the Shah kill the Ayatollah Khomeini, we probably would not have Iran becoming the backer of most of these radical groups. They have given safe haven to almost every despot or their families for many years. Mrs. Arafat and her daughter lived there in five star luxury while Yasser stole more money that was supposed to be earmarked for food and medical supplies for the Palestinians. He was not even one of them. Another fact that most people don't know. As far as I know France was one of the few countries that offered up their Jews to the Nazis without being asked or threatened. The anti-Semitism has always run deep there. They have let the Muslims have their own areas of cities and largely let them govern by Sharia law because they were afraid to enter the enclaves. They have given up their weapons because their government told them they would be safer without them. How did hat work out, eh? The civilized countries of the world better realize that you cannot fight wars with barbarians with rules of war. They won't abide by them and we must say: "To hell with world opinion". Nobody remembers who the nice guys were in a war, only who the winners were, and if we keep being the nice guys, we will be the losers.

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Bindon Blood Carl • Nov 20, 2015 at 08:04

I think it is fair to say that, during WW2, the French authorities did not rush to hand over their Jewish citizens and had to be prodded by the National Socialists in Germany and France. Having said that, it is also true that their was a significant anti-Jewish section of the population and in the civil authorities that relished the opportunity to dispose of their Jewish fellow citizens. France was not unique in this. Britain had her British Fascist movement but it never gained favour with the people; the Londoners gave them a bloody nose when they attempted to stir Jew hatred in the East End of London. When the war came along, Mosley and his acolytes were imprisoned so that put a stop to it. But of course the British were a different people then and Churchill was not a man to tolerate traitors or threats to Britain.

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Jeff Page • Nov 16, 2015 at 10:04

This article by Soeren Kern is spot on! So correct, the description of not just Hollande's attitude, but to many political leaders across the world when it comes to the so called Islamists! The cowardly approach rather than the firm approach it should be. One of the most disturbing things about the recent attacks is that many of the terrorists were either second generation, born in the country they have carried out the attacks, or were allowed entry when children. So, many were considered to be 'citizens', or that is how the media refer to them. Obviously, the terrorists don't appear to take the same view because they are in effect attacking their own citizens. They are Muslims, first and foremost! Nothing will change the way they think, no matter what garbage the media or politicians say. They all read from the same book, it's just that some interpret the words differently, but the underlying belief is still present in all Muslims, it's just that some are more vocal than others and as a consequence use violence in order to speak the loudest and keep the rest in check!

Governments in the EU can convince themselves that Islam is a 'religion of peace' but that is something that the many people across Europe don't appear to share belief with them. Most politicians are delusional fools who have convinced themselves that the multicultural experiment needs more time to reach fruition. But they aren't the ones facing the horrors, the deaths, the rapes, on the streets of European capitals and within smaller communities where these people of a very different culture and outlook on life are embedded.

Far too many cowardly leaders within the EU are turning a blind eye to the many criminal activities of the new arrivals, and the day will come when it will backfire on them in a big way. Already Frau Merkel is facing a great deal of criticism, the leaders in Sweden and Denmark. There are thankfully, a number of EU leaders who will resist the current influx of immigrants and will refuse to take any into their countries. They are the ones that actually care for their citizens very much unlike the UK, France and Germany who seem to be wanting to take in every refugee with a pulse, irrespective of where they come from or what they believe in! All I can think of, is that the politicians of the UK, Sweden, France and some others appear to want to drastically thin out the blood of the indigenous peoples in the hope of creating the 'ultimate coffee coloured citizen'!

People all across Europe ought to think seriously about the future and get behind the political parties that consider their own before the immigrant horde. The only way to change the stupid politicians minds is to vote them out of office, and laws must be created to never allow them in positions of power ever again!

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Solomon Balas • Nov 16, 2015 at 09:33

In this New Year speech at Al Azhar, President Al Sisi threw a plea at his Ulama'a to moderate 7th Century interpretation of Islamic Cannon since Islam can't take on the world and survive; The Ulama'a have done nothing since; They must think Al Sisi is a fool, or are willing for Islam to take on the West.

Al Sisi is a courageous intellectual, well placed heading the largest Arab State in the Middle East, to judge the Islamic world's mood, EU/USA need prepare for a likely clash of civilisations, unless ready to go the way of the Byzantines. They must marshall and fortify resources, armies and work out who their friends are. They do not have much time before chaos reigns in borderless EU/USA and a population drifting left. USA has had its worse President ever and needs to act to speedily regain lost ground. Both USA/EU would do well to stop hounding Israel which holds many keys for a return to world stability.

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Ron • Nov 16, 2015 at 09:28

At the Battle of Tours in 732AD Charles Martel's Frankish army comprehensively defeated the Muslim troops of the Umayyad Caliphate and secured France for the Gauls and the Franks for 1370 years. The invasion has begun anew as a new caliphate seeks control of France. A new Charles Martel is needed, but I doubt Francois Hollande has what it takes. Pity too the new Frankish warriors -- how do they know their enemy? It is not PC to say, as in 732, "the Muslims are the enemy" because you can only say "the terrorists - the 'bad' Muslims - are the enemy" -- but how do you know who is 'bad' until he attacks you?

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Jim Grindstaff • Nov 16, 2015 at 09:25

"Critics of the policy say 'Daesh' is a politically correct linguistic device that allows Western leaders to claim that the Islamic State is not Islamic -- and thus ignore the root cause of Islamic terror and militant jihad."

While I agree with the tenor of the article that France has brought many problems upon themselves due to their "inclusiveness-gone-overboard," using the term "Daesh" has a completely derogatory meaning toward those claiming to be an Islamic State. Personally, I refuse to refer to them as ISIS or ISIL because that lends credence to an Islamic State. Also, even though it was the original name of the group, those barbarians have stated that they now consider the name "Daesh" an insult.

I would like to clarify one thing in this post: France did NOT bring on the violence perpetrated against them by these subhumans of Daesh. Islam is offended by Free People such as those living in France and most civilized nations of the world. Daesh: Please, let me offend you today. I am a Christian and I am a free man.

Vive la France!

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EamonnDublin • Nov 16, 2015 at 08:26

The Paris murders and all the other atrocities have "nothing to do with Islam". It's those awful Christians who are doing it. And the Jews. And the Evangelicals. Etcetera, etcetera.
Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.

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